“Pareil” is a French word that can be used either as an adjective, a noun or an adverb.

Adjective

As an adjective, “pareil” means “similar” or “such.” It must agree in number and gender with the noun it describes, just like any other French adjective. Its feminine form is spelled “pareille.”

• les deux chapeaux sont presque pareils (the two hats are almost identical)
• je veux une robe pareille à la tienne (I want a dress the same as yours)
• pour moi, c’est pareil (it’s all the same to me)
• je n’ai jamais dit une chose pareille (I never said any such thing)

Noun

“Pareil” can also be a masculine noun. There is a feminine form of the noun too – “pareille.” Both mean “equal” or “peer.”

• on n’a jamais retrouvé son pareil (we have never found his equal)
• sa beauté est sans pareille (her beauty is without equal)

Adverb

As an adverb, “pareil” means “the same.”

• les deux mots s’écrivent pareil (both words are spelled the same)
• faire pareil (to do the same)
• nous étions habillées pareil (we [feminine plural] were dressed the same)
• pareil (“the same for me too” – when ordering food or drinks, when you want to order exactly the same thing as the person who ordered just before you).

Etymology

“Pareil” comes from the Latin adjective “pariculus” meaning “similar,” “kindred,” or “equal.” In Old French it was spelled “pareus” or “paroil,” but since the 13th century it has been spelled “pareil.”